Fleet Management

Door-to-door Reefer Intermodal

A unique domestic shipping container bowed in at the NITL/IANA/TIA Conference and Show in Anaheim, Calif., recently.

Cold Train refrigerated domestic container was so new at the IANA show that the fuel tank still had to be fitted. It will mount under the reefer, within the framework that protects the front of the box and refrigeration equipment.

At 53 feet including a nose-mount reefer unit, the container is designed for rail double-stack operations in association with a nationwide drayage operation to offer door-to-door refrigerated intermodal service.

The unique refrigerated unit has been constructed by Hyundai to designs from RRLX/Cold Train, an Overland, Kan.-based rail logistics provider. Kicking off in early December, the service is being provided between the Pacific Northwest's Columbia Basin and Chicago. The containers take approximate 3 ½ days between the rail terminals. At each end of the journey, tractors from Interstate Distributor Co. collect and deliver under a joint agreement for a seamless transfer of goods intermodally. The containers are carried on container chassis from the Seacastle trailer operation.

The operation is still in startup mode on this one lane, though according to staff at the show, there are plans to extend to others, with Interstate providing the drayage.